By Craig Mauger, Melissa Nann Burke, Beth LeBlanc, MediaNews Group

In a set of emergency moves Thursday, Michigan’s elected leaders attempted to direct state tax dollars toward helping about 1.4 million residents cope with the loss of food assistance Saturday because of the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the state would provide $4.5 million to the Food Bank Council of Michigan to feed families. And the Democratic-controlled Senate voted 27-4 in favor of a stopgap proposal, which would allocate $50 million to aiding low-income individuals and households in buying food and $21 million to food banks and other assistance programs that are expecting an onslaught of need.

Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, said the Senat

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